DAVID ESTRINGEL
DECEMBER 1, 2022
Boy with a Box Full of Wasps
Sweet nothings,
whispered under breath,
melt ears
like sonnets scribbled on paper
ripped from hornets’ nests
hanging from the trees.
Kisses
blown in the wind—
cold paralysis riding the breeze—
land their marks,
hard,
to sticking places (and jugulars)
like dark spells
or opiate darts.
How dubious this love,
like wildflowers in December
or a box full of wasps,
tied with ribbon--pink and satin--
like lips
that sting,
drunk on wine
from slices of green plum,
fermenting in the noon sun.
Ghosts in the garden
are we,
haunting the thorns
of rose bushes
and this poisoned well,
where wishes wither
and perish
at the touch of cold, liquid skin.
I love you?
I love you not?
Who’s the scare?
Who’s the crow?
Poppies
at the foot of the gate
blush, fiery, at conundrums
and the sticky-sweet of roseblood
on fingertips
and minds,
waiting
for the next turn of the screw.
David Estringel is a Xicanx writer/poet with works published in literary publications, such as The Opiate, Azahares, Cephalorpress, Lahar, Poetry Ni, DREICH, Somos En Escrito, Ethel, The Milk House, Beir Bua Journal, and The Blue Nib. His first collection of poetry and short fiction Indelible Fingerprints was published April 2019, followed Blood Honey and Cold Comfort House in 2022. David has written five poetry chapbooks, Punctures(2019), PeripherieS (2020), Eating Pears on the Rooftop (2022), as well as Golden Calves and Blue (coming 2023). His new book of micro poetry little punctures will be released in December 2022. Connect with David on Twitter @The_Booky_Man and his website www.davidaestringel.com.